Metea Valley’s Ellie Heney wanted to be back last season for the regional. Badly.

The junior defensive specialist had sustained a concussion in early September at practice. Her team eventually won 29 matches and went 8-0 in conference, a clear contender for the first regional title in program history.

Heney sat out the duration of the regular season.

When she wasn’t cleared for the playoffs, Heney said she was “absolutely devastated.”

The fire was stoked even more when the Mustangs lost in the Class 4A regional final to Naperville North in a three-set thriller. As that competitive fire grew, her appreciation for the sport did as well.

“Every moment I’m on the court, even the hardest matches, when we’re running sprints and doing all this, I know now that any moment it can be taken away,” Heney said. “That’s the harsh reality, and I didn’t realize that beforehand.

“Everyone has those days they’re so tired, so sore, whatever. But I haven’t taken a day since I got back that I haven’t appreciated this sport. Not even the sport, but life in general. Every day you’re able to do what you love, that’s just amazing.”

This season, Metea Valley (9-12) hit a rough patch, but that hasn’t dampened the mindset of Heney in her move to outside hitter. She has 153 kills and 141 digs through 19 matches.

Fully recovered from her concussion, Heney returned to her club season on Dec. 3 after the team had already been selected.

“I was sort of just thrown in there running, basically,” she said. “I think that was a best way for me to come back. I don’t want to slow down, ever. The second I was cleared, I wanted right back in. No hesitation. Need to put my foot on the gas and go.”

Heney hadn’t touched a volleyball in three months. She relied on her teammates — “like my family” — to prop her up as the struggled to get back up to speed.

“I had conversations with her before the season, saying we weren’t really sure what we’d have coming back, asking if she could hit,” said Mustangs coach Dave MacDonald of Heney. “She said, ‘Absolutely. Whatever would help the team.’ And I thought that was great.

“She surprises us sometimes with her ability. She’s got a learning curve too, getting back into it. She’s our go-to on the outside right now, wherever she is.”

The adjustment from defensive specialist to hitter has been “a bit weird,” Heney said.

Her physical ability is clear, but breaking the career-long mental focus toward defense has been the greatest change. It’s one the Georgia Southern recruit has taken head on along with being the captain.

After each loss, Heney said she’s on the phone with Samojedny throughout the night. Talking about adjustments, talking about new tactics to spark the group.

The goal is to win Metea’s first regional title. The Mustangs will go as their captains do.

“I’ve been a captain before, but it’s different on this team,” Heney said. “We’re just so young, and they’re all looking at me and Jamie to lead them to success.

“But I love that. I like having that role being so crucial. It’s even more motivation.”